ALLEN ARTISTS

Dr. H. Gerald "Jerry" Aultman

Howard Gerald (Jerry) Aultman was born and reared in Mississippi, where his father was a Baptist pastor. Dr. Aultman has recently retired from the School of Church Music at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas, where, at the time of retirement, he was Distinguished Professor of Music Theory. He still serves as the organist at the First Baptist Church of Dallas, is a Fellow in the American Guild of Organists, and an active member of the Fort Worth chapter. He has been active as an adjudicator in piano and organ for various kinds of music festivals and has served as a presenter of workshops for church musicians in the areas of piano and organ performance. He is a published arranger of hymn tunes for piano and organ solo, and piano/organ duets.

Aram Basmadjian

Aram Basmadjian is one of the most accomplished organ virtuosos in America. He provides diverse programs that have won acclaim from audiences and critics alike for being musically appropriate for all audiences. Aram has several recordings on Allen instruments, and continues his career as a touring concert artist, having spent six years with Community Concerts with performances in over 50 cities throughout the United States each year. These programs utilized Aram's own Allen four-manual touring organ. Aram currently serves as the Organist/Choirmaster at Trinity Episcopal Church in Bethlehem, PA, and is also Vice President of Sales of Allen Organ Company.

Click below to see a sample of a performance by Aram Basmadjian:

Cameron Cody

Cameron "Cam" Cody is an internationally recognized organist and concert pianist. Cam is a resident of Houston, Texas where he serves as Director of Music and Organist at Chapelwood United Methodist Church. Chapelwood is a church of over 7,000 members and its sanctuary is home to the largest five-manual APEX Allen Organ in the world. In addition to an active touring schedule, Cameron entertains a large online social media following. While you'll find Cameron has a wide range of styles, you will typically find Cameron keeping the great hymns of the church alive, gospel, and concert arrangements in worship and performances. A rare achievement, Cam is honored to be endorsed by two major instrument companies, Allen Organ and Shigeru Kawai Pianos.

Jelani Eddington

Jelani Eddington is a prominent organist and was the youngest musician to receive the title of "Theatre Organist of the Year" in 2001. During the course of his concert career he has been featured at national and regional conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society (ATOS), the American Guild of Organists (AGO), and has performed in most of the major concert venues throughout the United States and abroad. Jelani has also recorded extensively and has produced many theatre organ recordings on some of the best-known instruments in the country. No stranger to Allen theatre organs, he performed at the 2007 ATOS National Convention in New York City on a Quantum TO-5Q and has a Renaissance R-311 in his home.

Artist web-site:  

Click below to see a sample of a performance by Jelani Eddington:

Steven Frank

Steven Frank was a student of Virgil Fox and even shared the stage with him. He is a graduate of the Guilmant Organ School, where he studied organ with George Markey, and Wagner College, where he later spent five years on the music faculty. Mr. Frank has played concerts in most major New York churches and has given numerous recitals at the former Gallery of Modern Art. In the fall of 2000, Steven was one of eight performers at the 20th Anniversary Virgil Fox Memorial Concert at The Riverside Church in New York City, which drew one of the largest crowds at an organ concert in recent memory, and was the subject of an article in the New York Times. His CD recording "Autumn Fires" was recorded for the Allen Organ Company.

Artist web-site:  

Click below to hear a sample of a performance by Steven Frank:

Finale from Ad Nos - Liszt, performed by Steven Frank

Mark Herman

Mark Herman is one of America's busiest young theatre organists, performing over 30 concerts each year across the US and abroad. In July of 2012, he was named the American Theatre Organ Society's Organist of the Year and is the youngest person ever to receive the prestigious honor. He studied theatre organ with John Ferguson of Indianapolis, who is recognized worldwide for his skills as a teacher. His classical piano studies were with Christine Freeman. After graduating with a degree in Theatre Arts/Management from DePaul University in Chicago, Mark relocated to Indianapolis. He now resides in California.

Artist web-site:  

Click below to see a sample of a performance by Mark Herman:

Colin Howland

Colin Howland, a native of Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania, currently serves as Music Director of the Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he plays the organ for services and concerts, and oversees a comprehensive music program. Former church positions include: the Director of Music and Arts of the Park Cities Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas, and Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida where he was the Organist from 1992 to early 1998. As a soloist and accompanist, Colin has worked with several distinguished conductors including Sir David Willcocks, Anton Armstrong, Paul Salamunovich and Constantina Tsolainou. Colin is also a founding member of the Philadelphia Organ Quartet.

Lance Luce

Lance Luce is an internationally acclaimed theatre organist, having performed for many national and regional events of the American Theatre Organ Society. Lance won First Place Honors at age 18 in a nationwide organ competition in California. In 1979 he was appointed the Head Staff Organist at Radio City Music Hall in New York on the largest Wurlitzer ever built. Lance has made many recordings, including being part of the famous Theatre Organ Greats - A Salute to Radio City Music Hall. In 2014 he was given the American Theater Organ Society's "Organist of the Year" award. He is currently a staff organist for the Detroit Red Wings and staff organist at the Fox Theatre and Redford Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. As an Allen Organ Representative, Lance has designed over 350 organ installations in churches, homes and theatres. His expertise as a design consultant includes organ voicing, pipe interfacing, and MIDI implementation.

Artist web-site:  

Click below to see a sample of a performance by Lance Luce:

Rudy Lucente

Rudy Lucente has been associated with Allen Organs for over twenty years, and recently is known as the designer of the RL-66a and RL-90 organs, comprehensive three-manual and four-manual instruments that have met with acclaim from organists nationwide. He is an assistant organist at the Wanamaker Grand Court Organ in Philadelphia, and appears regularly at Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA, The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, and Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey. As a recitalist, Rudy is known for his "family friendly" presentations and dedication programs. As a clinician, his fifty-plus years as a church musician have enabled him to assist workshop attendees in most aspects of their important ministry.

RL-66a and RL-90 Rudy Lucente Designer Series Organs

Click below to hear a sample of a performance by Rudy Lucente:

Fountain Reverie - Fletcher, performed by Rudy Lucente

Trumpet Tune in D - Johnson, performed by Rudy Lucente

Kenrick Mervine

Kenrick S. Mervine is known as a thrilling performer, incorporating superb musicianship and technique in equal measure. Formerly Instructor of Organ at Seton Hall University, he is organist with the Colorado Symphony and is frequently featured in concerts and workshops with his wife, Barbara. Together, they also provide entertaining and informative concert programs in the style of "P.D.Q. Bach." Ken and Barbara direct the music and liturgy program at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Denver and Ken is also organist at the Congregation Emanuel, also in Denver.

Click below to see a sample of a performance by Kenrick Mervine:

Click below to hear a sample of a performance by Kenrick S. Mervine:

Tu Es Petra - Mulet, performed by Ken Mervine

Jonas Nordwall

Jonas Nordwall, no stranger to Allen Organs, is a virtuoso organist equally skilled in both traditional classical and modern/popular styles of musical performance. He has presented concerts all over the world and is the organist for the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, with whom he has done numerous recordings. Jonas has also published over twenty-five solo recordings, and is a frequent consultant in the design of both digital and pipe organs throughout the country. He is among the most respected theatre organists in the world, and in 1987 the American Theatre Organ Society named him "Organist of the Year."

Click below to see a sample of a performance by Jonas Nordwall:

Click below to hear a sample of a performance by Jonas Nordwall:

The Navy Hymn - Performed & arranged by Jonas Nordwall

Galloping Comedians - Kablevsky, performed by Jonas Nordwall

Maestro Hector Olivera

Maestro Hector Olivera is a passionate, gifted, and unique musician, whose personal interpretations of both classical and popular music have amazed and delighted audiences around the world. Since entering the Buenos Aires Conservatory as a child prodigy at age six, Maestro Hector Olivera has become one of the most sought after and revered international concert organists of the present time. Mr. Olivera has performed solo concerts throughout the USA, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, Central and Latin America and as guest soloist with prominent symphony orchestras worldwide.

HO-85 Hector Olivera Designer Series Organ

Artist web-site:  

Click below to see a sample of a performance by Maestro Hector Olivera:

William Picher

William "Bill" Picher is a well-rounded Catholic musician equally at home as an organist, trumpeter, composer and conductor. Bill earned his degrees from the University of Maine, Eastman School of Music and Catholic University of America. Bill was the house organist at Portland, Maine's historic State Theatre, where he played the Mighty Wurlitzer for silent movies. Notable performances as a classical organist have included Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago, St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the National Cathedral in Washington, DC. Bill currently serves as organist and choir director at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary, Queen of the Universe in Orlando, Florida.

Click below to see a sample of a performance by William Picher:

Walter Strony

Walter Strony is one of America's premier concert organists. He has established himself as one of those few organists equally at home playing both theatre and classical organ. Walt has performed hundreds of concerts worldwide, including many conventions of the American Theatre Organ Society and the American Guild of Organists. He has twice been voted "Organist of the Year" by the ATOS- the only living theatre organist to have received that honor. In 1999, he made his premiere appearance with the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra. Walt is also well known for his many fine recordings. His services as a pipe and digital organ consultant are always in demand in addition to his prowess as a concert artist.

STR-4 Four-Manual Walt Strony Signature Organ

Artist web-site:  

Click below to see a sample of a performance by Walter Strony:

Click below to hear a sample of a performance by Walter Strony:

Nola - Felix Arndt, performed by Walt Strony